Martin Lewis reacts to Government and Ofgem’s new plan for smart meters

Today, the Government and Ofgem have shared a package of proposed smart meter reforms to “give consumers clearer rights and better compensation.”

Reacting to the package of reforms, Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said: “Broken smart meters were high on the list of issues I raised with Ed Miliband when he first became Secretary of State. He promised me he’d investigate, so I was pleased when they told me this announcement was coming.  

"Far too many smart meters, likely one in five, don’t work as they should – a problem not just for all the homes with broken ones, but for the smart meter rollout. With so many dissatisfied customers, word-of-mouth is bad, so people tell their friends and neighbours not to get one.  
 
"We need to shift firms’ focus from just installing smart meters to promptly fixing those that are broken – not just meters that go into dumb mode, but crucially all elements, including in-home displays that stop working. That’s the aim of this plan, and while it's taking a softer approach than we proposed, it is an improvement and we’ll be monitoring to see if it delivers. 

"I’m also happy the Government has taken up our suggestion of a Consumer Charter, giving people definite rights and timetabling, and look forward to working with them to make sure consumers understand it when it launches.” 

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